Face shield



Sept. 18, 1956 P. D. AMUNDSEN FACE SHIELD 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Oct.12, 1953 INVENTOR. PAUL D.v AMUNDSEN Sept. 18, 1956 P. D. AMUNDSEN FACESHIELD 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Oct. 12. 1953 INVENTOR. D. AMuNDsEN PAULnited States FACE SHIELD Paul D. Amundsen, Evanston, 111., assignor toFendall Company, Chicago, Ill., a corporation of Illinois ApplicationOctober 12, 1953, Serial No. 385,536

4 Claims. (Cl. 2-8) a shield device having a head piece, improvementsin.

means for removably mounting a replaceable, flexible window member on anarcuatesupport member carried by the, head piece, such that the windowis held curved around the users face.

In a more specific aspect, it is an object of the invention,

to provide for the removable attachment of the flexible window member tothe curved support member in a manner permitting of automaticcompensation for misalinernent or mismatch of originally registeringfasten ing means as occasioned by dimensional changes in the members dueto the influence of' temperature, humidity, and" the like, withoutsacrificing rigidity in the attachment or the convenience with which itis effected.

Another object of the invention is to provide, in a curved shielddevice, fastening means which are engageable with a flexible windowmember and circumferential- 1y shiftable to tension the window member incompensat ing for a dimensional mismatch with the curved support memberto which the window is to be attached.

Additional objects and advantages will become apparent as the followingdescription proceeds, taken in conjunction with the accompanyingdrawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a transparent shield device embodyingthe features of the present invention andshown in place on a users head;I

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the shield device shown in- Fig; 1;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary detail view taken substantially along the line33 in Fig. 2;

Figs. 4 and 5 are enlarged detail views, in section, taken substantiallyalong the lines 4-4 and 5-5, respectively, in Fig. 3;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary, exploded front elevation of the shield device,particularly illustrating the coacting means for fastening a flexiblewindow member onto a curvedsupport member; and

Fig. 7 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 7-7 inFig. 1.

While the invention has been shown. and is described in some detail withreference to a particular embodiment thereof; there is no intention thatit thus be limited to such detail. On the contrary, it is intended hereto cover all modifications, alternative cons ructions, and equivalentsfalling-within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by theappended claims.

Referring now to the exemplaryembodimentof the invention here shown, atransparent shield device is illustrated as worn on the head of a user(Fig; l The devicevisor 11 which includes a replaceable, flexible, andtransparent Window member 12. curved to fit and attached at its upperedge to an arcuate support member or crown- 14 carried by the head band10.

The head band 10 may take any one of a variety of. forms; in the presentinstance it comprises a front portion 15 and a rear portion 16 hingedtogether as by eyelets 13 to facilitate the placement and removal of thedevice. on the users head. For purposes of increased comfort to the userand to assist in preventing accidental dislodgment of the device, therear portion 16 is fashioned to rest against the base of the users headjust above the nape of his neck. To this end, the rear portion 16 iscurved downwardly as at 19. If desired, a sweat band 20 of soft leatheror the like may be provided about the front head band portion 15.

While the head band it) alone is sufiicient to support the device, itscomfort to the wearer may be enhanced by an additional band or strap 21secured to the front portion 15 in front of the eyelets 18 and extendingupwardly and forwardly therefrom so as to rest on the front part of thecrown of the users head. This serves to relieve his brow of a good partof the weight of the device.

The rear portion 16 preferably includes adjustably The visor 11 ispreferably swingable to a position inv which the window member 12 issubstantially horizontal, thus permitting the user to. remove the window12 from a position in front of his face Without taking the bandv 10 fromhis head. For this purpose, the crown member. 14' is attached to thefront head band portion 15 in spaced relation thereto by pivot studs 24and is frictionally' biased by springs 25. The support or crown member14' isgenerally arcuate in shape, following the front portion 15 betweenthe pivot studs 24 and rising to a considerableheight to affordprotection for the users forehead. Preferably, such crown member is madeof the same material as the head band 10, such for example asvulcanizedfiber which is light and strong.

The transparent window member 12, when positioned in front of the usersface, as shown, provides complete protection of the face and eyes fromflying objects, splashing chemicals, heat, and the like, yetpermits goodvisibility. It is preferably formed of readily available plasticmaterial which possesses many advantages over glass, for example, inthat it is light, flexible, and shatter-- proof. The window member maybe bordered on its lower and side edges with a crimped, soft metalchannel 26 which not only keeps the edges from becoming nicked.

of frayed, but also permits the plastic sheet forming thev window to bepreset to some degree of curvature. For the most part, however, it isthe attachment of the win-- dow member 12 to the arcuate crown member 14which shapes and holds the flexible plastic sheet in curved relationaround the users face;

While the plastic material of which the window member 12 is formed isadvantageous in most aspects, it is relatively soft and liable to becomescratched or otherwise marred so as to impair visibility therethrough,thusrequit-ing replacement from time to time. It has been. found thatafter the crown member 14 of' the visor 11 has been in use for somelength of time, it is subject to dimensional changes. This is mostnoticeable as a peripheral elongation or shrinkage depending upon theconditions under which the shield device has been used. For ex:- ample,when the shield is used in a humid atmosphere.

such as encountered during plating or liquid chemical.

operations, the window supportingmem-ber absorbs mois-r a'rasoos tureand has a tendency to elongate. If it has been used in operations whereheat is encountered, such as furnace work or forging operations, thewindow-carrying member has a tendency to shrink. Thus, it frequentlyhappens that when a replacement window member is obtained, the elementsof the fastening means employed to join it with the support member willnot fit.

.In accordance with the present invention, the removable attachment ofthe plastic window member 12 to be curved support member 14 is effectedby an improved organization which not only snugly holds the windowmember 12 smoothly curved to conform to the support member 14, butcompensates for any such dimensional misalinements. As shown, a seriesof circumferentially spaced, forwardly projecting headed studs 28 arefastened to the lower edge of the support member 14, all but one ofwhich, stud 28A, are fioatably mounted for relative transverse shifting.In this instance, three such studs are provided, the center one 28Aanchored fast to the support member 14.

The top edge of the window member 12 is provided with a correspondingseries of openings 29 which are just slightly smaller than the heads ofthe studs 28 and 28A, and owing to the flexibility of the plastic sheetmaterial, permit the window member to be snapped over the heads and ontothe studs, as best shown in Fig. 7. The openings 29 are spaced so thatunder normal conditions they would register with and fit over the studs28 and 28A when the shiftable ones are centered in their limits oftravel. However, with elongation or shrinkage of either the windowmember or support member, such exact registry does not usually prevailover long periods of time.

For the floating fastening of the studs 28, each is made up of a cap 28band a skirt 280 having central outwardly projecting and nesting portionstogether with radially extending flanges. The caps 28b and skirts 28care adapted for interengagement, with the flange portions thereofdisposed on opposite sides of the supporting member 14 and, as shown,with the projecting portion of skirts 28c extending through relativelylarge openings 30 formed in the lower edge of the support member 14.That is, the openings 30 are made of a diameter larger than that of theoutwardly projecting portion of the skirts 28c, and the flange portionsof the two parts 28b and 280 are spaced apart a distance slightlygreater than the thickness of the material for the support member 14. Itwill thus be seen that the headed studs 28 may shift laterally withinthe openings 30.

The center, anchored stud 28A is constructed similarly to the previouslydescribed studs 28, except that its cap and skirt 28b and 28c haveflanges which are snugly crimped against the material of the supportmember 14 and the projecting portion of the part 28c fits snugly in anopening 31 which is relatively small compared to the openings 30. Thecenter stud 28A is thus rigid with the support member 14 and cannotshift as in the case of the studs 28.

With the fastening arrangement described, the window 12 may be attachedto the supporting member 14- by first snapping its center opening 29over the center stud 28A. Next, the window 12 is curved around toconform substantially to the curvature of the support member 14. Bylateral shifting of the studs 28 in the openings 30, they areappropriately positioned to snap into the corresponding openings 29 inthe member 12 even though there is considerable relative misalinement ofthe openings 29 with the corresponding openings 30 and 31, in aperipheral direction around support member 14. Because the center stud28A is rigid with the support member 14, the window member 12 is notfree to shift relative to the support member as it would be if all ofthe studs were shiftable. By this arrangement, therefore, provision ismade for dimensional misalinement or mismatch of the two fastened partswithout sacrificing rigidity of the connection.

As a further assurance, however, that the window 12 is easily attachedto or removed from the curved member 14, special fastenings 32 areprovided at one or both ends of the latter for engaging one or bothcorners of the window 12, both to .hold such corners curved down againstthe support member 14 and to circumferentially tension the window. As'aresult, thestuds 28 are pulled in their openings 30 topositions wherethe window 12.

and being slidable therein although locked against axial. play by aflange 38. The neck portion of the projections 34 diverges outwardly tothe head portion, in order that window members formed of material ofvarious thicknesses can be readily accommodated and each is urged, by awedging action, down against the support member 14.

For locking the projections 34 in any given circumferential settingwithin the limits of the slots 36, a nut element 39 is mounted fast oneach strip 35 and threadably receives a set screw 40 passed through aslot 41 in the support member (Figs. 3, 5 and 7). At the outer side ofthe latter, the screw 40 carries a washer 42 which is larger than theslot 41 and is disposed beneath a fingerpiece 44 on the screw. When thescrew 40 is loosened, the projection 34, strip 35, and the screw itselfmay be shifted within the limits of the slots 36 and 41; tightening ofthe screw clamps the support member 14 between the washer 42'and thestrip 35 to lock the projection 34 in a given setting.

For cooperating with the shiftable projections 34 at either end of thesupport member 14, holes 45 which are is only necessary to loosen thescrews 40 and bend the corners of the window down against the supportmember 14, shifting the projections 34 as required in order that theyare received in the holes 45, as shown in Fig. 7. Because the holes 45are relatively large compared with the heads on the projections 34, andbecause the latter are shiftable between the wide limits afforded by theslots 36 and 41, no trouble is experienced in effecting such engagementeven though dimensional misalinements due to relative expansion orcontraction are the greatest at the extremities of the window 12 andsupport member 14. Once the engagement has been eiiected, theprojections 34 may be circumferentially retracted by grasping thefingerpieces 44 and pulling rearwardly on them thus pulling theprojections 34 into firm engagement against the rear edges of the holes45 and tensioning the window 12 to pull it firmly against the supportmember. At the same time, the outwardly diverging or frusto-conical neckof each of the projections 34 bears against the edge of the holes 45 andwedges the corners of the window down firmly against the support member.The screws 40 may then be tightened by turning the finger pieces 44 tothereby lock the strips 35 and projections 34 relative to the supportmember 14.

In removing the window member 12, it is only necessary to loosen thescrews 40 and slide the strips 35 and projections 34 forwardly until thecorners of the window snap free of the projections. The window may thenbe quickly pulled from the studs 28 and 28A so that the support member14 is ready to receive a new replacement window.

I claim as my invention:

1. A protective device of the character described comprising, a headband, a relatively rigid generally arcuate window carrying membersupported on said head band and having an inside surface facing theusers head and an outside surface facing away from the users head, aflexible window member, and means for attaching said window member alongits upper edge to the outside surface of said carrying member so that itdepends in front of the users face, said means including a firstfastener for fixing said window member against lateral movement in bothdirections at one point along its upper edge on the carrying member, anda second fastener adjustable relative to the support and including meansby which the window member may be positively drawn in a direction awayfrom said first fastener, for tensioning the window member in snugconformity to the outside surface of said carrying membernotwithstanding dimensional misalignment thereof, and for holding themembers together.

2. In a transparent shield device, the combination of a relatively rigidarcuate support member adapted to be worn above the users brow, aflexible plastic window member, and means for holding the window memberon the outside of the support member so that it depends in curvedrelation in front of the users face, said means including a headed studanchored on said support member, said window member having an openingalong the upper edge to snap over said headed stud, said support memberhaving first and second spaced circumferential slots defined therein atone end thereof, and a fastener at said one end of said support memberincluding a headed projection insertable through said firstcircumferential slot, a flexible strip slidable along the inner surfaceof said support member and mounting said projection such that the latteris shiftable circumferentially in said first slot, a nut element carriedby said strip, a screw element threaded in said nut element andextending through said second circumferential slot to releasably locksaid strip relative to said support member, said window member alsohaving an opening formed in one upper corner thereof whereby saidprojection may be shifted forwardly, inserted through said latteropening, retracted in a direction away from said headed stud and lockedto tension said window member in curved conformity to the outside ofsaid support member notwithstanding dimensional misalignments of saidmembers.

3. A protective device of the character described comprising, incombination, a head band adapted to fit on the head of a user andincluding a relatively rigid crown member curved to extend around hisbrow, a flexible, replaceable window member, a plurality of headed studsremovably securing said window on the outside of said crown member, allof said studs except one being floatably mounted in spaced relation forlateral shifting on said crown member and the remaining stud beinganchored fast to said crown member, said window member having aplurality of openings formed in spaced relation and adapted to fit oversaid headed studs, misalignment of said studs and openings ordimensional differences between said members being compensated for bymovement of said shiftable studs, but the members being held fast andlocated against relative lateral movement in both directions at onepoint by said one fast stud, certain of said fioatably mounted studsbeing adjustable relative to the support and including means by whichthe window may be positively drawn in a direction away from said onefast stud, for tensioning the window into curved conformity to theoutside of said crown member, and for holding the window in place onsaid crown member.

4. A protective device of the character described comprising, incombination, a head band adapted to fit on the head of a user andincluding a relatively rigid crown member curved to extend around hisbrow, a flexible, replaceable window member, a plurality of headed studsremovably securing said window on the outside of said crown member, allof said studs except one being floatably mounted in spaced relation forlateral shifting on said crown member and the remaining stud beinganchored fast to said crown member, said window member having aplurality of openings formed in spaced relation and adapted to fit oversaid headed studs, misalignment of said studs and openings ordimensional differences between said members being compensated for bymovement of said shiftable studs, but the members being held fast andlocated against relative lateral movement in both directions at onepoint by said one fast stud, certain of said fioatably mounted studshaving conical neck portions diverging towards the headed portionsthereof, said certain of said studs being adjustable relative to thesupport and including means by which the window may be drawn in adirection away from said one fast stud, for tensioning the window intocurved conformity to the outside of said crown member, the conical neckportions thereof wedging the window firmly against said crown member.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,167,969 Bowers Aug. 1, 1939 2,194,492 Bowers Mar. 26, 1940 2,447,083Moeller Aug. 17, 1948 2,487,848 Bowers Nov. 15, 1949 2,610,323 JohnsonSept. 16, 1952

